Jun 16, 2009 10:41 am US/Eastern
Ex-Cop In NY School Melee Arraigned
Former NYPD Officer Peter Cocker Accused Of Threatening Suburban School Official With Gun
NEW CITY, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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South Orangetown Middle School in Rockland County was locked down after an armed man confronted the superintendent inside on June 9, 2009.
CBS
The former New York City police officer accused of threatening a suburban school official with a gun has been arraigned.
Peter Cocker of Tappan faces charges including kidnapping, burglary and coercion.
In Rockland County Court on Tuesday, Tappan's attorney entered a plea of not guilty.
Tappan was arrested during a confrontation last week at the South Orangetown Central School District. Superintendent Ken Mitchell tackled and disarmed him.
Officials say Cocker, who had a sick child, was upset over a swine flu letter Mitchell had sent to parents.
The former NYPD officer appeared in court in a bright orange jumpsuit, his hands shackled to his waist.
County Judge Catherine Bartlett set a conference for next week.
The 37-year-old Cocker, who is being held without bail, was an NYPD officer from 1993-2004.
Mitchell was praised for his fast thinking at the risk of his own life in quickly disarming the gunman.
"School superintendent Ken Mitchell had to talk the man down, wrestle away the weapon, and then hold the man down and that was an extreme act of heroism by the school superintendent that not only protected his own life, but those in the school as well," said Orangetown Superintendent Thom Kleiner.
Approximately 830 students attend the school.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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